Cowell signs deal with film company

X Factor supremo Simon Cowell is moving into the big screen business after he si gned a deal with the company behind hit children's films including The Lego Movie and Happy Feet.

Cowell's Syco Entertainment announced "a long-term, multi-project partnership" with Animal Logic Entertainment and said it hoped its first film would be in cinemas by 2016.

He said: " It is a dream come true to have this opportunity of working with Animal Logic.

"I think their work is pure genius and I really feel excited about the films we are going to be making together."

Zareh Nalbandian, from the Australian-based production company, said: " We are thrilled to bring together the amazing talent, global reach and expertise in popular music of Syco Entertainment alongside Animal Logic's rich history of innovative, cutting edge animation and universal storytelling.

"I am confident our truly complementary collaboration with Syco will be a very powerful force in family entertainment."

The firm has worked on films including The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Moulin Rouge and Iron Man 3.

Cowell lives between Los Angeles and London where he is working on the latest series of Britain's Got Talent.